Maghera business owner laces up for 235-mile cross-border charity challenge

Pearce Kelly, who co-owns and operates twelve local convenience stores in Mid Ulster is calling on his local communities to get behind his latest challenge for a children’s cancer charity.

Mr Kelly, together with his wife Oonagh and their daughter Ellen, will take on Rory’s Miles to Mayo Challenge for Cancer Fund for Children from September 12 – 20. Irish Rugby legend, Rory Best, will lead a team of business leaders, including the Kellys to walk nine marathons in nine days, covering the equivalent of 235 miles around Ireland. As one last fundraising push, Kelly’s stores will host coffee mornings over Friday, Setpember 4 and Saturday, September 5.

On Saturday, September 26, his EUROSPAR store in Maghera will host a “finale” coffee morning to celebrate their return from the nine-day challenge, inviting the whole community to join together over a cuppa and a treat in exchange for a donation to the charity which supports children, young people and their families through cancer from diagnosis to treatment and beyond.

In total, Kelly’s Supermarket’s have raised over £300,000 for Cancer Fund for Children, with the family’s local community the main inspiration to continue to support the charity.

Mr Kelly commented; “I had the opportunity to speak on behalf of the 102 EUROSPAR and ViVOXTRA supermarkets in Northern Ireland at a celebration event at Cancer Fund for Children, where we were marking £2,000,000 raised by the stores since 2011, and 15 years of the partnership.

“I commented that every single retailer has their reasons to go above and beyond for this incredible charity, and ours is because our community lost a beautiful little 3-year-old girl in Dympna Cassidy 15 years ago.

“Dympna was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away in 2011, a 3-year-old girl who truly left her mark. Dympna lived in Slaughtneil, only a couple of miles from home. I knew her parents. I saw the devastation that losing a child brings to a family and to an entire community. At the time I was a father raising a young family myself and it hit me deeply. We all wanted to do something practical, and so we created several events for Cancer Fund for Children in Dympna’s name.”

Pearce added “During previous fundraising for the charity I had the privilege of meeting a young man named Ozzie Rogers from Knockloughrim, who sadly lost his battle with cancer in 2020, at just 17 years old. When things get tough during the challenge I will think of Ozzie’s courage and that will drive me on.”

So far, over £85,000 has been raised through Pearce’s JustGiving page.

Mr Kelly finished; “I cannot thank both the individuals and businesses enough for their generosity and kindness. I’m hoping to raise as much money as I can for this challenge. It means the charity can do so much more to ensure children and young people, and their families, do not have to face cancer alone.”

Kelly’s Store Coffee Mornings: Kellys SPAR Fresh, Maghera: Friday, September 4, 10am-2pm; Kellys ViVO XTRA, Castledawson: Friday, September 4, 10am-1pm; Kellys SPAR, Castledawson: Friday, September 4, 10am-1pm; Kellys SPAR, Toome: Saturday, September 5, 10am-1pm; Kellys SPAR Rainey Street, Magherafelt: Friday, September 4, 9am-1pm; JC Stewarts, Magherafelt: Friday, September 4, 10am -3pm; Kellys SPAR Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt: Saturday, September 5, 8am-2pm; Kellys SPAR Lawford Street, Moneymore: Saturday, September 4, 9am-1pm; Kellys EUROSPAR, Moneymore: Friday, September 11, 10am am-4pm; Kellys SPAR, Cookstown: Friday, September 4, 8am-2pm; Kellys EUROSPAR, Maghera: Saturday, September 26, 10am-4pm Return from Mayo Celebration.